The Cratchits

• In a Christmas Carol who was Bob Cratchit known as ?

  In ACC Bob Cratchit was initially known as 'the clerk' symbolising the lower class and their lack of individual identity. It could be argued that Bob Cratchit's character was to represent the plight of the poor and attract immediate empathy.
• ''small pudding for a large family''


  The oxymoronic phrase represents the contentment of the Cratchits. This further connotes the normality of proportion of food as they are accustomed to these circumstance. This juxtaposes Scrooge as he was seen to have so much but still lived a dreary and dull life.
• ''dismal little cell''


  This may symbolise the premature lifestyle of Dickens as his father was sent to a debtors prison, so he conformed into working in workhouses, gruelling hubs of squalor that Scrooge advocates for the poor to go to(''aren't there no workhouses''). This may also have a symbolic reference to how the lower class people felt imprisoned when working.
• ''he tried to warm himself with a candle''


  This represents the inequality shown to the poor as they aren't treated fairly . The use of the pitiful verb 'tried' demonstrates a sense of desperation and helplessness. This acknowledges the powerlessness of Bob Cratchit towards Scrooge. This cause readers to sympathize with Bob Cratchit due to the poor provisions of warmth and the depriving of basic necessities.
• TINY TIM: ''God bless us, everyone''


  The religious focus on Tiny Tim is the exemplary child who embodies the spirit of Christmas. This is highlighted by 'every one' which implies that Tiny Tim's demeanor presents him to be a caring and compassionate young man, as he includes everyone in his good deeds despite his unfortunate situations.
• ''My little, little child'' 


  Dickens uses epimone to weaken the characteristics of Tiny Tim. This causes readers to emphasize on the tragic nature of losing a child. The use of the lexis 'little' further intensifies the injustice of this situation.
• ''the clerks fire was much smaller''


  This is symbolic to the treatment of the poor and the way in which they were stripped of basic necessities. The superlative 'smaller' reinforces the heirarchy of the classes and how the lower class was always beneath society.